Author: Godfrey Thring

Thring, Godfrey, B.A., son of the Rev. J. G. D. Thring, of Alford, Somerset, was born at Alford, March 25, 1823, and educated at Shrewsbury School, and at Balliol College, Oxford, B.A. in 1845. On taking Holy Orders he was curate of Stratfield-Turgis, 1846-50; of Strathfieldsaye, 1850-53; and of other parishes to 1858, when he became rector of Alford-with-Hornblotton, Somerset. R.D. 1867-76. In 1876 he was preferred as prebend of East Harptree in Wells cathedral. Prebendary Thring's poetical works are:— Hymns Congregational and Others, 1866; Hymns and Verses, 1866; and Hymns and Sacred Lyrics, 1874. In 1880 he published A Church of England Hymnbook Adapted to the Daily Services of the Church throughout the Year; and in 1882, a revised and… Go to person page >

Notes

The radiant morn hath passed away. G. Thring. [Afternoon.] Written in 1864, and first published in his Hymns Congregational and Others, 1866, p. 66; and again in his Hymns & Lyrics, 1874, p. 137, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines. It was adopted as the opening hymn of the 1868 Appendix to Hymns Ancient & Modern, and has since then been included in numerous collections in Great Britain and America. In Hymns Ancient & Modern it is set to special music by Sir F. A. G. Ouseley, Bart. This tune is known as “St. Gabriel."

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

==================

The radiant morn hath passed away, p. 1156, i. Under date of Oct. 24, 1899, the late Preb. Thring requested the Hymnal Committee of the S.P.C.K. to substitute the following as the second stanza in this hymn, in the then forthcoming revision of Church Hymns, for the stanza usually found in the hymnals, including his own:—
"Our life is but an autumn sun
Its glorious noon how quickly past;
Lead Us, O Christ, our life-work done,
Safe home at last."
"This," added Preb. Thring, "is my last and final emendation of this verse." This request was acceded to by the Committee as seen in the 1903 edition of Church Hymns, No. 31. This text is also in The English Hymnal, 1906. The text of the 1904 edition of Hymns A. & M. is that of Thring's Hymn Book, 1882.